BUENOS AIRES: Organisers of the 2016 Rio Olympics have been told to get a move on because of increasing concerns they are falling further behind schedule as unrest builds in Brazil.
With less than three years to go before the first Olympic Games in South America, most of the facilities in Rio have yet to be completed because of construction delays and soaring costs.
Earlier this year, millions of Brazilians took to the streets to protest against the billions of dollars being invested into staging the 2014 soccer World Cup then the Olympics instead of health, education, public transportation, and security.
Carlos Nuzman, the president of the Rio 2016 Olympics Committee, addressed the International Olympic Committee on Sunday to allay fears that things were off track.
He conceded things had fallen behind but said he was confident everything would be ready for 2016 and on budget.
“We have made significant progress,” Nuzman said. “I can assure you Rio will be ready. “There is a lot of work ahead but we fully understand the complexity of our task.”
Nuzman’s admission came just a week after an IOC co-ordination commission visited Rio before heading to Argentina for the IOC Congress. The commission was led by Nawal El Moutawakel, who won a gold medal for Morocco in the women’s 400 metres hurdles at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics.
El Moutawakel told the IOC Congress on Sunday that Rio had made “reassuring” progress in the last year but there was still a lot of work to do.
“Over recent months, the social and political environment and operations has significantly changed,” she said.
“There is a need, more than ever before, that all stakeholders need to work together.
“Key decisions need to be made collectively and communicated with one voice.”
She urged the Rio organising team to focus on getting the venues and infrastructure right as well as taking the “matrix of responsibility” and would return to Brazil next year to see how things were progressing.
“We remain confident Rio and Brazil have the resources and the energy and ambition to deliver a memorable Olympic Games in 2016.”
REUTERS
